I\u2019ve mentioned numerous times in the past that we often go out for Asian food. Before we moved from Vienna, we went to a Chinese restaurant pretty much every week. Since moving here to Shepherdstown, we often go to Kome \u2014 an Asian restaurant that advertises itself as Thai, but it\u2019s really more \u201cAsian.\u201d Some time back, the restaurant started providing \u201cthrowaway\u201d chopsticks. They come in a little paper wrapper and must be broken apart to use them. They\u2019re really too short and just generally not acceptable (to me.) Not that I\u2019m an expert when it comes to chopsticks, but I\u2019ve been using them for more than fifty years \u2014 so I at least know what I like.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Well, every time I go to Kome, I complain about the chopsticks. Many times, we go to the restaurant with our friend, Anne. Apparently she got tired of hearing me complain and for Christmas, she gave me a set of chopsticks made out of titanium \u2014 and \u2014 they came in a titanium case. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even though I\u2019ve written about chopsticks here before, I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to do it again\u2026 especially given the fact that Chinese New Year will be here in a few days. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chopsticks have been around for between 3,000 and 5,000 years. They originated in China and it\u2019s thought that the Chinese philosopher Confucius had a major influence on their development as eating tools. Chonfucius\u2019 nonviolent teaching philosophy was that instruments such as knives, with the connection people make with them for war and violence, were not to be used at the dinner table.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Using chopsticks involves over 30 joints and 50 muscles in the fingers, wrist, arm and shoulder as well as thousands of nerves.
February 6th is National Chopstick Day.
Almost one third of the world uses chopsticks every day \u2014 about as many as use a knife and fork.
80 percent of chopsticks made in Japan are made in the small city of Obama (spelled the same as President Obama) \u2014 it has a population of about 32,000.
The fear of chopsticks is called \u201cconsecotaleophobia.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Chinese use longer style chopsticks than other countries, usually made of wood that come to rounded or blunt end. These are the ones I prefer.
The Japanese use short, wooden sticks that come to a sharper pointy end.
Koreans use shorter, metallic, wood or plastic sticks that are often blunt at the end.
The Vietnamese also use longer sticks that come to a blunted end, like in China \u2014 often made of wood, but many are plastic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So next time you visit us in Shepherdstown, we\u2019ll take you out for some Asian food \u2014 but be warned, I\u2019ll be using my titanium chopsticks \u2014 you\u2019ll be on your own.
\u2014 30 \u2014<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
I\u2019ve mentioned numerous times in the past that we often go out for Asian food. Before we moved from Vienna, we went to a Chinese restaurant pretty much every week. Since moving here to Shepherdstown, we often go to Kome … Continue reading